Artist Cabin Residents

During our hike down the west side of Polychrome Pass rain began again in earnest, waterproof gear kept us sort of dry but the wind driven horizontal spray found ways to creep inside, wet eyeglasses limited vision and shooting photographs became unrealistic. We waved down a green bus and sloppily found a seat dripping water on passengers in isle seats.

Once again back at Murie cabin sitting in the shelter of the porch roof we watched the daily activity of local residents. Several ground squirrels created an extensive network of holes and tunnels leading directly under the wooden porch. Scurrying back and forth in perpetual motion they were working to build a winter nest. Magpies inhabited the porch eaves, sounds of their scratching and pecking on the cabin roof continued through the day into the night. An occasional small rat or vole would dart across the path and Snowshoe Hares hopped in and out of the leafless brush without an obvious purpose quickly fleeing to hide when we approached. The place was alive with life and we sat quietly and watched while the rains continued.

Later in the evening reading the cabin journals and stash of dusty books in the dim glow of a propane mantle the noises of rain, Magpies, squirrels, and other creatures that inhabited the yard all blended together into the soothing sound of life. The living, breathing heart and spirit of this historic place. I went to sleep thinking of tomorrow and the possibility of finding subject matter for paintings, knowing that it all depended on the light. The elusive, fleeting light diffused so far by smoke and rain. Maybe tomorrow will bring sunlight…….

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Niebrugge Studio

Meet Gail Niebrugge

Gail Niebrugge (Knee-brew-ghe) born and raised in California has pursued art since childhood, winning a poster contest on the Johnny Jet television show at the age of twelve. Gail began her career as an illustrator for the US Navy and Marines in San Diego, and later established the Instructional Media Center for the Grossmont High School District in La Mesa, California. The Niebrugge family fell in love with Alaska while on vacation in 1976 and never returned home, instead they established a residence and studio in the remote interior settlement of Copper Center where the artist painted the … [Read More...]

Wikipedia defines pointillism as; "a style of painting in which small distinct points of primary colors create the impression of a wide selection of secondary and intermediate colors." It goes on to say that the mind and the eye mix the color spots into a full range of tones and that it is closely related to Divisionism. Divisionism was practiced by Georges Seurat during the Neo-Impressionism period. He broke his color into basic elements and painted very small and regular dots. His dots are carefully placed as to not touch each other, so the white under painted canvas shows around all of the dots.
I call my painting technique pointillism, but technically it is incorrect according to Wikipedia. The difference between my technique and true pointillism is that I use all … [Read More...]